Paul’s Goal in Ministry

1:21Andyouwereat one time strangersandenemiesinyour39 minds40as expressedthrough41 your evildeeds,1:22but now he has reconciled you42 byhisphysicalbodythroughdeathto presentyouholy, withoutblemish, andblamelessbeforehim–1:23ifindeedyou remainin the faith, establishedandfirm,43withoutshifting44fromthe hopeof the gospelthatyou heard. This gospel hasalso been preachedinallcreationunderheaven, and I, Paul, have becomeits servant.

1:24NowI rejoiceinmy sufferingsforyou, andI fill upinmyphysical body– for the sakeof hisbody, the church– whatislackingin the sufferingsof Christ.1:25Ibecamea servantof the church according tothe stewardship45from God– givento meforyou– in order to complete46the wordof God,1:26that is, the mysterythat has been kept hiddenfromagesandgenerations, buthasnowbeen revealedto hissaints.1:27Godwantedto make knownto them the glorious47richesof thismysteryamongthe Gentiles, which isChristinyou, the hopeof glory.1:28Weproclaimhim by instructing48andteaching49allpeople50withallwisdomso thatwe may presenteverypersonmature51inChrist.1:29Towardthis goal52Ialsolabor, strugglingaccordingto his powerthat powerfully53worksinme.

Warnings Against the Adoption of False Philosophies

2:6Therefore, just asyou receivedChristJesusas Lord,65continue to liveyour lives66 inhim,2:7rooted67andbuilt upinhimandfirm68in your69 faithjust asyou were taught, andoverflowingwiththankfulness.2:8Be carefulnotto allow anyoneto captivateyou70 throughan empty, deceitful philosophy71that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits72 of the world, andnotaccordingto Christ.2:9Forinhimallthe fullnessof deitylives73in bodily form,2:10andyou have beenfilledinhim, whoisthe headover everyrulerandauthority.2:11Inhimyoualsowere circumcised– not, however,74 with a circumcisionperformed by human hands, but bythe removal75 ofthe fleshlybody,76that is,77 through the circumcisiondone by Christ.2:12Having been buried withhiminbaptism, youalsohave been raisedwithhimthroughyour78 faithin the power79of Godwho raisedhimfromthe dead.2:13Andeven though youweredeadin your80 transgressionsandin the uncircumcisionof yourflesh, henevertheless81 madeyoualivewithhim, having forgivenallyour transgressions.2:14He has destroyed82what was againstus, a certificate of indebtedness83expressed in decreesopposedto us. He has takenit awayby nailingitto the cross.2:15Disarming84the rulersandauthorities, he has made a public disgraceof them, triumphingover thembythe cross.85

2:16Thereforedonotletanyonejudgeyouwith respect tofoodordrink, orinthe matterof a feast, new moon, orSabbath days–2:17theseareonly86 the shadowof the things to come, butthe reality87is Christ!882:18Let no onewho delightsinhumilityandthe worshipof angelspass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths89 about whathe has supposedlyseen, but he is puffed upwith empty notionsbyhisfleshlymind.902:19Hehasnotheld fast91to the headfromwhomthe wholebody, supported92andknit togetherthroughits ligamentsandsinews, growswith a growththat is from God.93

2:20Ifyou have diedwithChristtothe elementalspirits94 of the world, whydo you submitto them as thoughyou livedinthe world?2:21“Donothandle! Donottaste! Donottouch!”2:22These arealldestined toperishwith use, founded as they are95 onhumancommandsandteachings.962:23Even though they havethe appearance of wisdom97withtheir self-imposed worshipandfalse humility98achieved by an99 unsparing treatmentof the body– a wisdom with notrue value– they inreality result infleshlyindulgence.100